It's another list of our favourite things to hit the 4ZZZ Library. If you see anything you like you can request it: requests@4zzz.org.au
You can also SMS a request: 0416 281 220
Or call: 07 3252 1555
Thanks to Hayley Elliott-Maclure, Krishan Meepe, Adrian Marsh, Eamon Webb, Linda Finlay, Louis Whelan, Lauren Sachs, Alexis Zlamel, Ella Dann-Limon, Mitch Cutting, Keara Forde, Sarah Romero.

Australian Artists:

Various Artists: Convergence - A Compilation Of Hobart Noise & Experimental Music - Vol One (Rough Skies)
- The Native Cats’ Julian Teakle has become a dab hand at putting together compilations of his home town’s music. Convergence represents a new direction, collecting as the name suggests, all the crashing, chittering, droning aural oddities made by Hobart’s experimental artists. It’s a fascinating insight into a scene that is little known outside of the city, not to mention some bloody interesting music. (Chris Cobcroft)

A Gazillion Angry Mexicans Black & Blue Blues (Single) (Indie)
- AGAM have a lot in common with the easy-on-the-ear, stoner rocking of QOTSA, including a multi-barrelled silly name. Having said that, you may well find just about as much to like about them, too. (Chris Cobcroft)

Adults: Gronk City (Single) (Bechamel / Pop Frenzy)
- The lo-fi post-punk / jangle-pop of Sydney’s Adults is the second release for Pop Frenzy’s (even more) boutique imprint, Bechamel. Jangle pop and postpunk have come together more historically than they come together now, it’s good to hear them together again. (Chris Cobcroft)

Anabelle Kay: Nothing But A Thought (Single) (Strangelove / Fuse)
- A late single from an EP last year. Bright, sparse and tear-jerking trad, hillbilly folk. Anabelle Kay’s slightly nasal voice, with its fast vibrato, is the perfect instrument for the deceptive simplicity of this music. Unreasonably powerful. (Chris Cobcroft)

Anchor & The Butterfly: Nothing to Win Nothing to Lose (Ghost Gum Records)
- Bridget Robertson & guitarist Lance Hillier do quiet, sparse country-folk. It’s much more unassuming than the Americans -like Alison Krauss or Gillian Welch- to whom they compare themselves and is the better for it. Country shouldn’t sound perfect, it’s got to sound broken down, if it wants to break any hearts in return. (Chris Cobcroft)

Art Vs Science:Create/Destroy (Magellanic / Kobalt Music / MGM)
- Hypercoloured synths and in-your-face beats make this big, grinning EP of dance-pop from the Sydney act pretty easy to enjoy. It helps that the songwriting is as good as the production, so that’s pretty dang good. The heart of nu-disco is still thumping hard in Australia. (Chris Cobcroft)

Astronomy Class: Mekong Delta Sunrise (Elefant Traks / Inertia)
- What happened when members of this Aussie hip-hop group travel to Cambodia and fell in love with old cassettes from the country’s Golden Era of Khmer Pop? Obviously, they collaborated with Srey Channthy of The Cambodian Space Project to create a diverse album of solid hip-hop beats backed by traditional instruments. Paying homage to the social and cultural history of Cambodia, they also have a go at the ‘ugly behaviour’ of Western tourists, which probably needed doing. (Eamon Webb)

Bad//Dreems: Dumb Ideas (Single) (Ivy League / Mushroom)
- Bad//Dreems latest single takes their jangle-pop / grunge hybrid and, kinda throws it out the window in favour of what is basically cock-rock. Still, in line with their jangley DIY-ness, there’s an honest simplicity that teams up admirably with the ball-to-the-wall rock. Don’t know where the hell this band is going, but I’m reasonably keen to find out. (Chris Cobcroft)

Ben Frost: Aurora (Mute / Create Control)
- The Iceland based Aussie hits your ears like a two-by-four. Beats crash with grinding intensity, shrieking synths wail, sometimes in mournful harmony, sometimes just in pain. As if that wasn’t enough, Frost lets everything peak out into white noise at the drop of a hat. Devestating extremes of volume and quiet, burning heat and freezing cold, buffet the listener or release them into a vacuum, again and again. Not for the faint-hearted, but bloody impressive. (Chris Cobcroft)

Big Blind Ray Trio: Mereki (Single) (Indie)
- Hailing from Sydney, Big Blind Ray Trio plays some honest-to-God blues. The legends of old would be proud of this driving riff and simple strong vocal, bemoaning the cruelty of Mereki herself. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Big Smoke: Weekend (Single) (Indie / Vice Royalty)
- Old school rock’n’roll that’s as smooth and easy-going as Buddy Holly. Neat piano solo and everything. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Bombay Royale: Kis Taref (Single) (Hope Street)
- More Bollywood via 70’s spaghetti-western and blaxploitation soundtracks via a very faithful Melbourne recreation. Ridiculous technicolour lushness pervades this new single and if everyone doesn’t love it I shall want to know the reason why! (Chris Cobcroft)

Broadway Sounds: The Last Detail (Indie)
- Three cuts that are excitingly diverse from the Melbourne outfit. Beginning with synth infused afrobeat, very dancey and featuring some guiltily pleasurable bass drops. In a disorienting flash, suddenly we’re in 80’s electro-soul; ok, still sounds great. Then we’re into some kind of fusion of both with psychedelic flute warblings off to the side and electrified r’n’b moans. Broadway Sounds are capable of a bewildering amount and deliver a whole lot. (Chris Cobcroft)

Brody Dalle: Diploid Love (Caroline / Universal)
- The Distillers / Spinnerettes frontwoman makes a full-length, solo foray. It’s a fine balance of the old aggression and f*** you attitude, with a sonic palette that now includes synths and softness and a worldview that is, if still firey, more mature. One of those rare instances where moving on doesn’t mean ruining everything. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Button Collective: A Ship Sails (Indie)
- Trad. folk with a cabaret flourish and a rough, punky edge should most certainly be led by a chap with a wry grin and a thick, Irish brogue, singing songs about fecklessly pissing your life away. Alright then, bunch of ticks for The Button Collective. (Chris Cobcroft)

Calling All Cars: Good God! (Single) (Cooking Vinyl)
- Not bad at all. The guitar riff throughout the chorus of this sinister and snarling alternative anthem invariably had my head bopping without me even noticing. Very catchy track to get you pumped up for that gig you’re going to tonight. (Linda Finlay)

Chateau: Don’t Pass Me By (Single) (Indie)
- These guys are big fans of Roy Orbison, as you’ll hear in the lush, widescreen pop of Don’t Pass Me By. Mandolin and string section melt into the smooshy reverb, it’s like the song is taking valium for you. The tiniest bit more ironic distance between this band and their fascinations might stop them coming a cropper some time in the future, but if you just put on a big goofy grin, take your date by the hand and join in the fun, there’s quite a lot of it to be had. (Chris Cobcroft)

Chet Faker: Built On Glass (Future Classic / Opulent / Warner)
- Chet Faker’s debut full-length is a solid record, remarkably lacking in pretension, just straight down to business with the atmospheric r’n’b. It’s as though he’s trying to strip back the layers of expectation and trying to get you to appreciate him for something simple and musical. As such, some of the wow factor you might associate with the most incandescent r’n’b is not here, but this is, nonetheless, satisfying. (Chris Cobcroft)

City Calm Down: Pavement (Single) (I Oh You / Mushroom)
- Gothically tinged combo of all those waves: new / cold / dark. What it all amounts to is: stylish. Makes me want to be a damn cyberpunk. (Chris Cobcroft)

Curious Creatures: So Tall (Indie)
- Dancy electro-pop that has a simplicity at its heart, reminiscent of early Madonna or Cyndi Lauper. Coming full-circle, that’s a breath of fresh air. (Chris Cobcroft)

Dave Graney: Fearful Wiggings (Cockaigne / Fuse)
- Long-serving rocker Dave Graney heads into acoustic territory. Fans of the man will not be disappointed, it’s a strong collection of songs, not least because they’re etched with strongly personal detail, and they’re also full of his signature wry, even oblique humour. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Decline: Can I Borrow A Feeling? (Pee Records)
- Fans have already gone nuts over The Decline’s new record. Skatepunk with all the vigour, political steel and humour of NOFX or Frenzal Rhomb. Makes me want to go and find the new crop of pop-punkers and slap them. (Chris Cobcroft)

Eagle And The Worm:Automatic (Single) (Warner)
- Those frenetically and, indeed, perennially energetic kids are back sounding all psychedelic and Britpop on this new single released -special like- for Record Store Day. A bit Primal Scream, a bit Spiritualized at their most upbeat, and liable to get folks doing what they always do around Eagle And The Worm: and that’s get down. (Chris Cobcroft)

East: Old Age (Single) (Indie)
- Quite an impressive single from this sixteen-year-old NSW resident. Extremely catchy electro-pop off her soon to be released debut EP. East's vocals and lyrics certainly make her seem a lot older than she is on the aptly titled track, Old Age. Definitely one to watch out for. (Linda Finlay)

The Easybeats: The Best Of The Easybeats + Pretty Girl (Sony)
- A reissue of the 1967 release. The Easybeats are the tunefully bratty originals that authored today’s garage-rock-pop fad and this is stuffed full of the reasons why. (Chris Cobcroft)

Emma Russack: Get Back (Single) (Spunk)
- Another intimate slice of singer-songwritery goodness from one of our favourite central coast sadsacks. A distinctly country flavour -slide guitar and all- and an upbeat twist in this song, makes this a warmer treat than we usually get from Emma Russack.

Fabels: Against It (Single) (Rabbit Release)
- Experimental pop from Sydney duo Fabels captivates and delights with newest single ‘Against It’. A beautifully crafted six-minute piece that builds from a crunchy minimalist beat to a fully fledged electro soundscape, exhibiting definite Krautrock and shoegaze influences. B-side ‘Jacinta’ is single-worthy in itself. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Freya Josephine Hollick: Beauty and Sorrow (Popboomerang)
- Freya’s Josephine Hollick has been aiming to capture as much of the essence of ‘ol’ timey’ as possible on her latest record. Simple, rootsy instrumentation, rough and warm production and not least her sweetly quavering voice help her reach that goal with aplomb. (Chris Cobcroft)

Full Ugly: Spent The Afternoon (Bedroom Suck Records)
- Four cuts of archetypal jangle-pop. Off-key and wearing a big, perfectly sunny, lackadaisical grin. If you’re a judgemental type - like me - you’ll probably start of wanting to yell “go get a job!”, but it’s impossible not to be won over by these likeable slackers. (Chris Cobcroft)

Graveyard Train: Takes One To Know One (Black Hat Rackets / Cargo / MGM)
- Melbourne-based horror country outfit Graveyard Train do not disappoint with their latest EP ‘Takes One To Know One’. Having steered away slightly from their foot stompin’ roots to a more bluesy ballad style of songwriting, this effort may distance dyed-in-the-wool fans but only until the end of the final track. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Hailer: El Cosmico (Indie)
- Hailer call what they do ‘open-minded rock’ which is fairly reasonable, because, on a whim, they seem to take whatever style is appealing to them and throw it into the mix. Psych, indie, blues, folk, alt-country are all put to work in the broader project of producing something which alternately whispers and roars, sometimes so heavily you might think the sound will tear itself apart. Everything always sounds haunted, too. The production and experimentation is occasionally a little wild and free, but at its best this is moving and classic rock songwriting. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Harpoons: Unforgettable (Single) (Two Bright Lakes / Remote Control)
- Despite sounding undeniably white, The Harpoons bring a blend of classic soul and synthy neo-soul together that’s quite tidy. (Chris Cobcroft)

Harry Coulson's Rain Dogs: Harry Coulson's Rain Dogs (Indie)
- Harry Coulson’s instrumental jazz trio of guitar, bass and drums draws from a wide array of influences. They bring the technical athleticism of their jazz chops, but flesh it out with a rocky, even post-rock listenability. They list The Dirty Three and Mark Ribot as influences, and I’m guessing -from the name- that Tom Waits is in there too, but I’m sure there’s more to it. At any rate, one of the most approachable contemporary jazz records I’ve heard in ages. (Chris Cobcroft)

Hawaii94: Nightvision (Indie / Stellar Kinematics)
- Reverb soaked but danceable dream-pop and naff 80’s synth-rock. Really well put together, fans of Wild Nothing or Washed Out commence your head-nodding. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Infants: Halves (Single) (Indie)
-This dreamy offering from Melbourne post punk outfit The Infants is a total earworm. The languid rhythm section, ethereal vocals and eerie, slamming riff work together to create a romantic, doom-laden sonic treat, reminiscent of Black Mountain. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

JaysWays/Reesepushkin: Epilogue (Indie)
- I’m not quite sure why Jay Cooper has released two singles, both by him, as a split under two different monikers, but, who can penetrate the intellect of artistic genius? The cuts aren’t too bad: the first, Infinity featuring Nicole Millar is future r’n’b, with the requisite synth sheen and a big wobbly bass, coming unfashionably close to being very dubstep, but it works in context. Scrunchie, by contrast is wonky, again infected with a restless techiness and bass rhythm that careers all over the place like an out-of-control semi-trailer. That second one especially I like quite a lot, it reminds me of the best work of Eskmo, who had a similar interest in splicing wonky and dubstep together. (Chris Cobcroft)

JDG: Luna (Single) (One Love Records)
- Lots of good electronic tunes coming out of Melbourne lately, and producer JDG is most assuredly one of these. If I were to ever use the term “banger” it would be well employed in describing this nasty little piece of big house bounce. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Jenny Queen: Blood Meridian (Single) (Indie)
- Ohio-born author and songwriter Jenny Queen has drawn inspiration from the works of Cormac McCarthy for her latest effort ‘Blood Meridian’. Despite its acoustic rocking, howls like your family home burning down. Appropriately haunting. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure & Chris Cobcroft)

Jonesez: Lazyboy (Gun Fever / Green Media / Sony)
- Fat bass lines combined with catchy guitar riffs! The slightly bluesy, britpop streak is still running strong through their sound. This latest offering from Melbourne band Jonesez won't disappoint all those rock fans. My favourite track would have to be “Keyboard Skills” but each song on this album is equally good. (Linda Finlay)

Kid XL: Caroline, Make Up Your Mind (Single) (Indie)
- I suppose it’s all been done before, but the whispery class, lurking in the reverb of Kid XL makes the garage and surf-pop seem that much fresher. (Chris Cobcroft)

King Of The North: Wanted (Single) (Dirty Rock)
- Balls out rock would have to be the only way to describe this latest offering from this duo. The guitar rifs are solid and even more interestingly, there is no bass in this band. Guitarist Andrew manages to get an amazing guitar & bass sound all from his guitar. A good solid single. (Linda Finlay)

The Kremlings:Whole Earth Cleansing (Desperate)
- A thickly textured, lo-rez, wall of sound, crashing like a sledgehammer through the oldschool messiness of punk. Sometimes slow and crushing, sometimes speedy and erratic and done in a minute. The Kremlings call it sludge-punk, sure, why not? Brutally good. (Chris Cobcroft)

Little Desert: Soothsayer / Ashes (Single) (It)
- Bringing together prog, psych, sludge and folk wound up in a very gothic shroud, Melbourne’s Little Desert haunt the same realm as - a similarly female-fronted band - Blood Ceremony. There’s something looser and messier about Little Desert, taking pages out of the book of The Drones or Nick Cave. One to watch. (Chris Cobcroft)

Little Murders:Go (Indie)
- One of Australia’s original mod bands come back sounding like barely a day has passed. Rich, warm, blues and roots rock done so that today’s blues neophytes know how. (Chris Cobcroft)

Lusinth: Blue (Single) (Indie)
- Quite electronic, very blissed out post-rock. More hypnotic than most post-rock by a country mile. With the maximum amount of subtlety (barring the occasional, bluesy guitar solo), Lusinth set themselves apart from the pack. (Chris Cobcroft)

Marksman Lloyd: Silver Magic Ships (Single) (Indie)
- Marksman Lloyd changes up the formula of Australian hip hop just enough to be a real breath of fresh air. He’s a thinker, but he can really rap too, and these things come together over wistfully ambient beats on this thoughtful, powerful cut. (Chris Cobcroft)

Midnight Pool Party: Linger (Single) (Mammal Sounds)
- Sydneysiders Midnight Pool Party bring that old-school disco, funk flavour fabulously back to life with new single Linger. Strongly reminiscent of early Kylie, there's an audible Australian watermark here. Good fun! (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Motez: Promise Me (Sweat it Out)
- Adelaide’s Motez has a take on UK garage tinged, funky house that aims for the cheap seats (25,000 FB likes can’t be wrong), but it is still a world better than the scum floating on top of the dance charts, and he has plenty of old school goodness to get down to. (Chris Cobcroft)

Movement: Ivory (Single) (Modular / Universal)
- Ghostly ambience provides an unusual context for the intimately produced soulful crooning, a downtempo house groove, and a sick guitar solo! These (sometimes not-so) subtle left-turns on the formula continue to set Movement apart and make them substantially more interesting than many of their dancefloor partners. (Chris Cobcroft)

MSXP feat. FRDRIK: Clouds (Single) (Vicious Bitch)
- Extraordinarily little hype attached to this, despite the fact that it’s such highly polished party-rap. FRDRIK’s deadpan flow reminds me of someone but I can’t recall who. Someone good because his soulful, wistful musing fits just fine here amongst MSXP’s electro r’n’b stylings. The two remixes are on the same level of achievement: Redial’s super-squelchy bass-booms are great and the ‘Bollocks Deejays’ give you exactly what you want from a disco-house remix. Surely this must shoot for the stars? (Chris Cobcroft)

The Murlocs: Loopholes (Flightless / Remote Control)
- Epitomising the old-school psych rock that The Murlocs themselves are a latter-day archetype of. Difficult to fault. (Chris Cobcroft)

Ned Collette & Wirewalker Networking In Purgatory (Dot Dash / Remote Control)
- Another record of distinctly Euro art-rock-pop from the Berlin based ex-pat. A quiet, nuanced and impressive listen. (Chris Cobcroft)

Nun: Nun (Aarght / Avant)
- Synth post-punk fronted by the baleful Jenny Branagan and featuring members of Woolen Kits and Constant Mongrel. Enthusiastically DIY, tuneful and brutal. The perfect combination, really. (Chris Cobcroft)

Oceans Until Dusk (Indie)
- The call of the Californian coast is a golden thread running through this sleek, atmospheric EP from Oceans. By turns it’s glitch or downtempo dance, but always blissfully ambient. The production is lush, peppered with visceral crunches, clicks and pops. A feast for the ears. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Our Man In Berlin: Is it right? (Indie)
- Remarkably stylish dance-rock out of Perth. They really do manage to bring influences like Foals, Sigur Ros, Bon Iver and The Stone Roses together in a finely nuanced whole. Precise and chilling, but also dreamily embracing; it’s like slowly losing yourself to hypothermia. (Chris Cobcroft)

Paul Grabowsky: The Bitter Suite (Universal)
- These contemporary jazz tracks infuse rhapsodic solos with a tight, rhythmic groove, and at times a little bit of funk. The influence of iconic artists like Miles Davis resonate in 'Sisyphus' and 'Try the Veal', making The Bitter Suite an interesting infusion of classic and contemporary Jazz. (Ella Dann-Limon)

Pugsley Buzzard: Chacin' Aces (Indie)
- Pugsley Buzzard is Tom Waits combined with Randy Newman, but from Australia. His most recent album, Chasin' Aces (which we got singles from, late last year, but never the whole package), features ten bouncy piano and vocal driven tracks, and jumps between melancholy heartbreak ballads and upbeat jazz numbers like it's nobody's business. (Louis Whelan)

Rat & Co: Binary (Indie / Vers 51)
- When you think about it, can you recall too many ambient hip hop producers? I really can’t. Rat & Co are, like J Dilla meets Boards Of Canada (really, I mean, someone must’ve done that before, that’s just begging to be done). They aren’t just knob-twiddlers, either, but a whole, live four-piece. In a way that’s very stylishly laid-back, these guys are quite exciting. (Chris Cobcroft)

Ravines: Waiting (Indie)
- Sounds a bit like Something For Kate, largely thanks to their husky vocalist. A bit heavier, almost shoegaze, with production that is just gritty enough and, unexpectedly, a cool wash of synth. Quite likeable. (Chris Cobcroft)

REMI: Tyson (Single) (House Of Beige)
- Good flow, menacing delivery, great, bass-heavy electro beats and nice production. A very tidy bit of hip hop. (Chris Cobcroft)

Saskwatch:Nose Dive (Northside Records/ Inertia)
- A solid collection of soulful funk jams on the sophomore full-length from one of Australia’s hardest working funk juggernauts. By their standards this is mostly, comparatively sedate and it doesn’t necessarily take you anywhere you haven’t been before, but the band have polished the style to a fine gleam and that’s something to appreciate in itself. (Chris Cobcroft)

Shaun Kirk: Steer The Wheel (Indie)
- Shaun Kirk brings, as many people will tell you, something strange to the blues. It’s not alienating, quite the opposite in fact. Part of it is rock, part of it is soul, part of it is that kind of fusion that the nu-roots crowd are into and…gosh, when he really takes off, there’s something about Shaun that’s even a bit glam. Some of those things are way down the back of my list of stuff to get down to, but you can’t deny that Shaun and his strange brew have got what it takes to rouse the crowd. Not having seen him, I’m still willing to bet a chunk of change that he goes off live. (Chris Cobcroft)

She Was Loud:Plastic Demons (Indie)
- This -mostly- female fronted alternative band out of Melbourne are quite good at sounding like QOTSA, but most of the time they sound like a bit of a blend of the bands they really like: Rage Against The Machine and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Stadium sized rock, but unlike Nickelback, She Was Loud, probably even their frontwoman, actually own a set of balls. (Chris Cobcroft)

Silversix Love What You Feel (Single) (Sweat It Out)
- More sweet electro spewing out of Melbourne! Must be something in the water. A big thumping bassline drives along this funky piece of deep house while those catchy vocals ensure instant head-bobbing. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Sons Et Al: Day By Day (Indie)
- Melbourne’s Sons Et Al have a list of influences that say a lot about them: Here We Go Magic, Yeasayer, The xx. Groups that bring beats into an indie milieu aren’t all that common in Australia, so this is nice to hear. Nicholas Acquroff’s subdued baritone further distances this from the local crop. Shining Bird or Ernest Ellis groove in this oddly self-medicating manner and I guess that’s reasonably auspicious company to keep. (Chris Cobcroft)

Spartak: Five Points (Feral Media)
- Spartak had a watershed moment and decided to turn their glitch-jazz into electronic rock. Often that kind of decision would lead to my heart getting broken, but not in this case. Quasi-industrial, in parts cold-wave, in parts kraut-rock. This is very ready competition for the likes of HTRK because Spartak have taken many of their most interesting sounds and fused them into the nightmarish beats you’ll hear on Five Points. Excellent. (Chris Cobcroft)

Super Magic Hats:More Than Words (Single) (Indie)
- Those crazy kids are still at it. Samples sliced up with safety scissors become dorky dance beats that you can’t help but be won over by. B-side is a sort of chillout cover of the Butthole Surfers’ cult hit, Pepper, and, well, I dunno, but whatever, it’s the b-side. (Chris Cobcroft)

Susy Blue: Nobody's Somebody (Big Rig)
- Susy Blue continues sashaying about with her sugar-sweet style of cabaret pop. She’s become highly accomplished at it. Some of the gypsy fire might be hotter if the pop here was slightly less family friendly, but Nobody’s Somebody is still as diverse as it is skillful. (Chris Cobcroft)

SWRLS: Definition (Single) (Remote Control)
- Very smooth bit of dark, dance-rock. Elements of late Depeche Mode, maybe UNKLE? This is one act that has hit the ground running. (Chris Cobcroft)

Tangrams: Waves (Indie)
- Melbourne trio Tangrams, whatever they’re doing, they do it loud. Sometimes it sounds a bit like MBV, sometimes a little like Suicide, maybe PJ Harvey, too, even Wanda Jackson. Sometimes it just sounds like Chris Isaak on a day when he’s tired of wooing the ladies and just decides to scare everyone. In whatever style you care to name, Tangrams will crush you. (Chris Cobcroft)

Thundamentals So We Can Remember (Obese Records)
- Sydney based trio Thundamentals present an honest and progressive hip-hop album for their Australian audience. So We Can Remember is quality stuff that is worth taking some time out to vibe on. There are grooves weaving all the way through this album, utilising innovative production that has done the boys and Australian hip-hop justice. (Lauren Sachs)

Waterford All That Gold (Single) (Indie)
- An interesting tidbit from Canberrian four piece Waterford. Alt-rock that frequently wanders into Brit/power pop territory a-lá The Only Ones. An enjoyable grower. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

White Hex: Paradise (Single) (It)
- Beautiful, crystalline, gothic electro-pop echoing out of Melbourne. Crystal Castles, Zola Jesus Cold Cave, eat your hearts out. There’s never a hint that this is less than perfectly executed. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Windy Hills: Fall of Planet Esoteria (Warner Music)
- I love this album! It blends and mixes so many genres of music but does it in a way that works. Fall of Planet Esoteria crosses from psychedelic to ambient to rock to indie pop to folk... Basically take your mind on this amazing acid trip and you’ll know what I’m talking about. (Linda Finlay)

Wizard Oz: These Days (Single) (Beko Disques)
- Insane, excellent fusion of ethereal indie-folk with the most ridiculously over-the-top, speeding dance-pop. Points just for the audacity, but it really works as a song. (Chris Cobcroft)

Wolfmother: Enemy Is In Your Mind (Single) (Indie)
- Enemy In Your Mind is the first track from Wolfmother’s third album and the first thing we’ve heard in five years from the band. This track sounds very similar to Wolfmother’s first album, with a heavier feel. This track emulates Wolfmother’s roots, bringing back their signature hard blues-rock / psychedelic sound or Led Zep, or whatever. Still, that's hard to do and they still got what it takes. (Ella Dann-Limon)

Xylouris Ensemble: AERA (Indie)
- The ensemble of Cretan Lutist Girogos Xylouris has a new one. The group who count Nick Cave among their fans have laid down a mixture of trad. and new, much of which has that slightly eerie southern European flavour, but, to my untutored ear, there’s an interesting interpolation of the kind of folk reels more traditional in Britain. (Chris Cobcroft)

Yacht Club DJs: No.1 (Create Control)
- Yacht Club's deput EP plays out like one of their DJ sets: starting in electro-funk, adding a bit of Salt'n'Peppa style rap, blissing out into dreamy nu-disco and dropping into some techno to go hard for the finish line. It's like they say: it's not art, but it is pretty well put together and hardly chart-climbing crap. It may not hit #1 but well done, I say. (Chris Cobcroft)

Yeah Boy: Can't Get Enough (Sweat It Out)
- Electro-funk, r’n’b, neo-soul and nu-disco. Very heavy on the electro, but if it sounds a little like a plastic recreation of the classics, the musicianship is undeniably impressive across a wide variety of urban genres. Remixes of the lead cut take in electro-house, a rather shockingly cheesy dubstep / house and a really winning g-funk. (Chris Cobcroft)

Local Artists:

Various Artists: Young Franco Remix Pack #1 (Indie)
- Local beatmeister Young Franco continues to impress with this collection of (unofficial, I guess?) remixes of big tunes by Broods, Major Lazer and Kilter. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Amity Affliction: Pittsburgh (Single) (Roadrunner Records / Warner Music Australia)
- The first single off the new album. It continues to be the case that -despite the fact that they seem to be liberally drinking the same liquid-cheese as many of their brothers in arms- if I have to listen to fairly archetypal metalcore, I’d rather hear it done by Amity Affliction than most bands. Also, Pittsburgh, what’s wrong with you, why do you make so many people feel this way? (Chris Cobcroft)

The Black Swamp: Foulness (Single) (Indie)
- Sludge metal from the Goldie. What it lacks in production niceties it makes up for in raw viciousness and also the power of Stewart Wren’s skin-stripping vocals. Already packing a fairly strong following, this is one of those few bands I’d like to hear have a meeting with a veteran producer. (Chris Cobcroft)

Blunt B: Dissolute Habits (Bedlam)
- More electro-funk / nu-disco goodness from Blunt B. He’s really very good at this, like, “Daft Punk you’re on notice” good. Squelchy saw-wave synths duel with funky guitar licks as soulful vocal samples shoot for high orbit. Good. (Chris Cobcroft)

Brenda Lee Kelly: Jezebel (Single) (Indie)
- Local chanteuse Brenda Lee Kelly charms and amuses with this alt-country piece about a Brisbane girl who drinks like royalty down at the Prince Consort. She’s got that unmistakable Brisbane sound, simultaneously melancholic and drunkenly cheerful. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

The Broken Needles: Holy Coast (Indie)
- Gosh, there’s nothing like actually knowing a bit about musical history. I think Townsville band The Broken Needles must have a more exciting record collection than anyone else in that godforsaken burg. They cite the alt-pop of The Triffids, the splattery art-punk of The Birthday Party, the brooding southern punk of The Gun Club and they even reference The Cocteau Twins letting in the occasional wash of dreamy reverb like a balm to the grittiness of the rocking. It’s all fitted together with a deft touch that is impressive to behold. I’ve always felt that the desolate vastness of Australia should produce more music like this, it’s a pleasure to actually hear it. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Bucketseats: I've Got You On My Mind (Single) (Indie)
- A three-minute burst of sweet pop from multi-instrumentalist Matthew Barker's solo project The Bucketseats. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Clag: Choose Your Own A-Side (Chapter Music)
- Clag once again bring their extensive history to bear in producing a couple of quite hybridised pop cuts. Jangle meets twee, meets ‘90’s alt-pop. To my mind, there should be quite a degree of difficulty in pulling something like that off, but Clag sail through it sounding effortlessly cute and cool at the same time. (Chris Cobcroft)

Clucka: Clucka EP (Indie)
- Clucka (Luis Tredicucci) was born and raised in Taupo, New Zealand but moved to Brisbane 3 years ago where he produced the Clucka EP. His music is heavily influenced by the likes of J-Dilla, Pete Rock, Hulk Hodn, De La Soul, The Roots, Madlib. Old school, instrumental hip hop goodness. (Keara Forde)

The Dashounds: Kids Again (indie)
- Acoustic pop-punk, anyone? These guys are... actually OK. They bring a very light touch to what are essentially US melodic punk stylings, which results in classic pop songwriting, and has me reaching for names like Stars, or even Things Of Stone And Wood. Surprisingly enjoyable. (Chris Cobcroft)

Desert Blues Cartel: Ma Cherie (Single) (Indie)
- Schmolz to the max. The Desert Blues Cartel, in case you were wondering, are not doing anything like Desert Blues. This is an over-the-top, acoustic duet in the style of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, only more so. The lush production and a string quartet that’s not half bad, lift this from being merely cheesy to something kind of great. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Delta Riggs: Supersonic Casualties (Single) (Indie / Inertia)
- I’m not quite sure what’s going on in The Delta Riggs camp. They’ve moved to the Goldie and dumped the White Stripes blues-rock in favour of classic psych rock. They might sound more like Cream than Jack White now, but, as usual, they do it convincingly and that may well be all that matters. (Chris Cobcroft)

Disfigured Mistress Life After The Fall (Indie)
- Truly punishing industrial music has never quite gone away, so maybe that’s why it hasn’t been ‘revived’ per-se. With the upsurge in electronic music, I’m really hoping that it will find it’s way back into the zeitgeist, proper. If so, an outfit like Disfigured Mistress deserves to lead the charge. A blend of squelchy, saw-wave synths, aggressive white noise, propulsive drum machines and a patchwork of samples worked deftly into the mix that brings together the seething best of industrial, darkwave and noise. (Chris Cobcroft)

Drawn From Bees Web Of Thieves (Bonefinger Records / Pricewar)
- Locals Drawn From Bees offer up a delight with new EP Web of Thieves. Sweet vocal harmonies, wandering delicate melodies and alternative instrumentation combine to create a sprawling rich tapestry of dreamy art-rock. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Dune Rats: Funny Guy (Single) (Ratbag Records)
- Dune Rats are back with their new single Funny Guy. This first single is a nice promise of what more we can expect. Their last EP, Smile, was damn good and will be a hard one to follow up. However, I’m prepared to dive into this indie-pop-rock heaven with sweet abandon. Can’t wait to hear more. (Linda Finlay)

DZ Deathrays: Black Rat (I OH YOU / Mushroom)
- Very excited for the new stuff from DZ Deathrays, these guys are playing in Brisbane at The Zoo on the 9th of May. The first track hits you hard with the DZ sound we know and love. This album feels and sounds a little 'tidier' than their previous stuff, but definitely not disappointing. (Ella Dann-Limon)

Fever Pitch: Memories (Single) (A&R Department)
- Fever Pitch continue to be an interesting mix of indie-pop, melodic-punk, grunge and a bunch of other things I’m sure. For all that the mixture has the potential to be young and bratty, Fever Pitch actually sound quite grown up. Memories, the lead track on this rather stacked 7”, harks back to the poison goodness of The Violent Femmes. More depth than you might expect. (Chris Cobcroft)

Fieu: Put It On The Line (Single) (Indie)
- Brisbane band Fieu debut their first single Put It On The Line from their upcoming EP. A harmonious combination of vocal layers and loops, keyboard synths and pounding drums make this five-piece alternate-pop group that is hard to ignore. The cinematic sound is not far from that of London Grammar and with their resonating enchantment they are worth devoting some interest. (Lauren Sachs)

Flannelette:Valley Nights (Indie)
- Two words to describe Valley Nights, the new EP by Brisbane Boys; Flannelette? HARD. ROCK. These guys bring the grungy, crunched chords of yesteryear strongly into the new Brisbane Scene. Dynamics, grooves left right and centre, hooks, and painful vocals are in abundance in these simple 5 tracks that put eloquently, just rock! Flannelette are definitely one of the bands to watch out for. (Mitch Cutting)

Forty Five: In The Web (indie)
- Old school melodic hardcore done gritty and messy. There’s not enough of this stuff around. (Chris Cobcroft)

Gonzovillain: Good Luck! (Indie)
- Quiet, lo-fi rocking that is very thoughtfully crafted, evocative and sometimes - when it isn’t giving you ‘tude - quite beautiful. Elements of Elliott Smith, The Velvet Underground and Lee Hazlewood I suppose, since they cover him. Remarkable. (Chris Cobcroft)

Harlequin: Rachunek (Single) (Indie)
- An interesting blend of post-rock with alt-rock that verges on the post-hardcore. A bit rough around the edges, but when Harlequin go for it, they are quite impressive. (Chris Cobcroft)

His Merry Men: Ruth (Single) (Indie)
- A little cracker from local nine-piece party pack His Merry Men. Megan Crocombe's vocals are totally engaging, gliding over the top of an irresistible track containing just the right amount of funk, soul and rock. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Ladi Abundance Project: Slice You Up (Indie)
- A couple of strong, soulful tunes with groovy jazz arrangements. The production leaves something to be desired but there is no denying that Ms. Ladi Abundance has some killer vocal talents and Brisbane's sexiest backup singers. (Krishan Meepe)

Michael Julian Johnson: Ocean's End (Indie)
- Michael J. Johnson’s strong and pure tone of voice (which has some similarities to the mournful croon of Thom Yorke) is sparsely matched with just his acoustic guitar and some quite eerie harmonies. It sets him apart from all the other guitar slinging singer-songwriters out there. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Missing: That’s What/Slow Dance (Single) (Indie)
- Made up of members that are barely legal, local Brisbane band The Missing have a sound well beyond their years. Their garagey surf rock vibes draw parallels with artists like Real Estate, Smith Westerns and Royal Headache. Poppy enough to please the most generic Smith Westerns fan and punky enough to please the most diehard Royal Headache purist: something for everyone. (Alexis Zlamel)

Monica Moore:Five For Me (Indie)
- Smooth, soft piano and vocal jazz. Beautiful in its simplicity. Five For Me is both what you'd put on to help put your baby to sleep, and what you would listen to on the train to drift off into your own half-meditative world. Dave Spicer does an excellent job on piano and the vocals of Robyn Brown and Zac Bradford really help bring life to Monica Moore's music. (Mitch Cutting)

NEESH: Future Human (Indie)
- About as ex-pat as Keith Urban, so I don’t know whether they count as ‘locals’, especially since this Goldie based crew are so unapologetically American in their sound. On the flipside, their very techy hip hop leaves most Aussies for dead. Extremely accomplished. (Chris Cobcroft)

OXY: Fluorescent Saviour(Single) (Indie)
- Old school new-wave / darkwave, emphasising its historical accuracy by sampling the sound of a 56k modem. Disturbingly earnest, but very well put together. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Painted Ladies: Get Back Into The Shadows (Plus One Records)
- Local indigenous singer-songwriter Luke Peacock has brought together a bunch of Australian musicians to recreate the songs of Vic Simms, one of Australia's most renowned indigenous songwriters. The band’s latest single, Get Back Into The Shadows, is simple, laid-back, country rock. (Louis Whelan)

Per Purpose: Bathing Suit Sand (Single) (Bechamel / Pop Frenzy)
- Tense and unbalanced, Per Purpose do their best Birthday Party + extra-added post-punk impressions on this 7” which is the debut release for Pop Frenzy’s new, super-boutique imprint, Bechamel. (Chris Cobcroft)

Phil Monsour Who Killed Reza Berati (Single) (Indie)
- A scathing inquest into the murder of Iranian asylum seeker Reza Berati earlier this year on Manus Island. Local singer-songwriter Monsour poses the titular question and rattles off a list of possible culprits, all of whom claim innocence and pass the buck. A clever and incisive track in the vein of other political folkies Paul Kelly and Bob Dylan. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

The Phoncurves: Heartstrings (Create/Control)
- The Phoncurves have crafted a dreamy second EP in Heartstrings. The reverb-soaked, tambourine-shakin' title track is a little Fleet Foxes at first, before breaking into an acapella of gorgeous harmonies – definitely getting that Beach Boys vibe, girls! Lover is like Kimbra without the irksome eccentricities.Their summation of the EP probably describes the sound best too: ''Life can sweep you up and carry you off to the least expected places but you just have to take it as it comes, not take it too seriously and find your happy place.” Not life-changing, more life-affirming, but very nice all the same. (Eamon Webb)

Pluvio: Lover No (Single) (Indie)
-This is a new project for Kit Sivyer who was an early member of Felinedown, and also from the now-defunct industrial rock group Broken Puzzle. 'Lover No' is Pluvio’s first song. Essentially triphop, but with dream-pop vocals lurking amongst the lush electronics, this track is unique and interesting. (Ella Dann-Limon)

Some Jerks: Dark And Dead Of Night / Nancy (Single) (Twelveyes)
- Two fast paced thrillers from the retro-pop-rockers. There’s certainly some surf in Dark And Dead Of Night, although they make a disturbing break for Horrorpops-esque territory. Nancy’s rock’n’roll has the most absorbing chorus, bonding rock’n’roll to the vocal harmonies of The Mamas & The Papas. Visiting yesterday is sounding mighty fresh. (Chris Cobcroft)

These Guy: Human Language (Indie)
- Bedroom producer Joe Saxby makes an EP of mysteriously distant, ambient pop. Saxby points to Ariel Pink to justify the often indistinctly lo-fi quality of his production, which is almost a shame, because there’s so many layers of interesting things going on in there. In another sense it just makes the whole thing more obsessively fascinating. (Chris Cobcroft)

Valium: Alien (Single) (Indie)
- A solid debut single from local artist Lauren Coutts under her dreamy electro pseudonym, Valium. Minimalist loops and reverb-drenched vocals make for a surprisingly full-sounding track, with Coutts performing all instrumental duties. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Velociraptor Ramona (Single) (Remote Control)
- Local Brisbane band Velociraptor return with a brand new single, Ramona, and like their previous releases it still reeks of crunchy guitars, catchy riffs and toe-tapping goodness. I found myself wanting to dance, and shake all of the things I shouldn’t. The twelve-piece are back and packing all of the punches they’ve previously shown us. (Lauren Sachs)

The Vernons: Rolling Back To You (Single) (Indie)
- Fans of the Black Keys are gonna love this young band fresh out of the Gold Coast. The Vernons' new single, Rollin' Back To You is hard hitting, rockin' and plenty bluesy! (Louis Whelan)

New Zealand Artists:

Cocoa Jackson Lane: Fall On My Floor (Single) (Release The Hounds)
- Remarkably effective fusion of soulful, r’n’b sounds both new and old. Touches of Kiwi neo-soul meet oldschool Motown and there’s even a little bit of psych going on in amongst the bass-drops (!). There’s lots of ways that this could have gone awry, but it really doesn’t. Pretty impressive stuff. (Chris Cobcroft)

Popstrangers: Country Kills (Single) (Carpark/Spunk)
- Those oddballs do it again. An angular garage-pop / post-punk / art-rock song is lifted to greatness by an astonishingly catchy slacker-pop chorus. God knows what the record will be like, but there are few bands like this. (Chris Cobcroft)

Suren Unka:El Chupacabra (Indie)
- Kiwi beatmaker Suren Unka has a fairly individual sound. The soft edges of the nonetheless propulsive and four-to-the-floor beats almost tip into psytrance, but he’s got enough interesting stuff bubbling away, subversively, underneath, that he’s more in line with some of today’s most progressive dance-’sperimentalists like Gold Panda or Four Tet. The sort of guy that Ghostly Int’l might consider signing at some point in the not-too-distant future. (Chris Cobcroft)

Tiny Ruins:Brightly Painted One (Spunk)
- Hollie Fullbrook has expanded Tiny Ruins which now includes two more New Zealand artists (Cass Basil and Alexander Freer). Brightly Painted One still maintains the style of previous albums with airy vocals, acoustic guitar and a sprinkle of other soft instruments. Tiny Ruins’ minimalist sound makes for an undemanding and elegant album. (Sarah Romero)

Overseas Artists:

Various Artists: Cosmic Computer (Sonic Mind / EPM)
- Celebrating twenty years of Sonic Mind’s uplifiting spiritual hoodoo through the medium of dance: collecting unreleased cuts and rarities of all sorts of different kinds of techno, a little bit of house and some strange diversions into weird folktronica. In keeping with the disparate nature of the collection it doesn’t always move me, but when it does, it impressively illustrates the
strength of the label’s past and points the way to an exciting future. (Chris Cobcroft)

Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O.: Astrorgasm From The tcInner Space (Important)
- Four long-form psychedelic journeys from the tireless Japanese masters Acid Mothers Temple continuing with the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. formation, marking the return of original vocalist Cotton Casino. All tracks break the 15 minute mark, three of which venture between familiar territories of stoner-folk, space-rock and massive noise freak-outs including a re-recording of 2004 track Dark Star Blues while come-down track 'Pleasure Mantra of Sorrows' takes a step back and goes on a dreamy noise excursion. (Adrian Marsh)

All We Are: Feel Safe (Single) (Domino / EMI)
- The Liverpudlian trio describe themselves as The Bee Gees on Diazepam, which gave me a laugh. I’m not sure they have the vocal power for that, but they do sound a bit like The xx, yet a version that has a greater affinity for pop songwriting. There’s also a funky fusion that’s reminding me of oh, I dunno, Toto, Genesis maybe? Anyway, liking it. (Chris Cobcroft)

Andrew Jackson Jihad: Christmas Island (SideOneDummy / Shock)
- AJJ’s Sean Bonnette has a vocal style that’s not too far removed from The Mountain Goat’s John Darnielle, much of the lyrical skill and the warm, funny sadness too. As fans of the band know he turns it to a roughly folk-punk sound with a defiantly political bite. The pallette of their latest record is slightly broader, but doesn’t stray too far from the rough production and mostly gentle folk-rock, with torching moments of punk rage. Maintain the rage with a wry, drunken grin on your face. (Chris Cobcroft)

Angel Du$t: A.D. (React! / Reaper)
- A very curious offering indeed is this first LP from Baltimore’s Angel Du$t. Displaying wildly varied influences from early 80’s hardcore to pop to punk to early seventies Stooges, there’s something for everyone here. Tying it all together is a vein of pure energy, giving this record an air of raw honesty and lack of self-consciousness that is very hard to dismiss or dislike. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

The Apache Relay: The Apache Relay (Dine Alone Records / Cooking Vinyl Australia)
- The Apache Relay’s self-titled album is a sweet blend of upbeat indie folk and haunting lyrics. The first track “Katie Queen of Tennessee” released as a single, is the obvious catchy pop track of the album but by no means their best offering. (Linda Finlay)

Archie Bronson Outfit: We Are Floating (Single) (Domino)
- A taste of UK indie-blues from their new EP Wild Crush, out May 19th. A more polished example of their work, still rife with their signature hooks but perhaps a little too smooth to stick instantly. Although it didn’t immediately wow me, it did keep me keen to hear what the EP has to offer in its entirety. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

BADBADNOTGOOD: Can't Leave The Night (Single) (Innovative Leisure)
- This is the first track I've heard from this Canadian trio, and I'm so excited for their forthcoming album. These guys are 20-something jazz musicians who have collaborated with Earl Sweatshirt and Frank Ocean. Can't Leave The Night is exactly the sort of custom-made boom-bap with a modern, pounding synth-bass, that would have Odd Future lining up. A haunting electronic instrumental track that shows hints of their impressive talent. (Ella Dann-Limon)

Big Black Delta: Huggin Kissin (Single) (Indie)
- Punchy electro beats find a very effective foil in the sweet background synth. Bombastic new-wave that still manages to bring something subtle, even while it space-rocks a-la m83. The b-side sounds like a space-cruiser being torn apart in a gravity-well and finishes sounding like Rutger Hauer watching “attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion” -very Vangelis- and bloody great. (Chris Cobcroft)

Black Label Society: Beyond The Down (Single) (Nuclear Blast / Riot)
- A taster of BLS’s ninth studio album Catacombs of The Black Vatican, Zakk Wylde and co. deliver what’s expected and not a whole lot more. Riff-heavy with obligatory wailing solo. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Blistered: Soul Erosion (6131 Records)
- Tampa’s Blistered sock it to us with the release of their new EP Soul Erosion. These five songs show an inspired take on Florida’s long-standing scene of 90’s inspired, sludgy hardcore. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Bo Ningen: DaDaDa (Single) (Stolen / Pias / Mushroom)
- Those crazy Japanese punks return with another cut full of off-the-wall rhythms and loaded with roaring guitar, just spilling out all over the place. For all that, they still manage to infuse a surprisingly pop sensibility into this art-math-psych-punk monstrosity. (Chris Cobcroft)

Chevel: One Month Off (Stroboscopic Artefacts / EPM)
- Italian producer Dario Tronchin aka Chevel, makes techno that is simple and brutal. Often sparse, sometimes probably too sparse, but never less than industrial strength. Chevel sometimes throws in frisky, syncopated dancehall beats and is at his best when he finds some interestingly metallic timbres and blends them together in a style that is less dancefloor and more machine operated assembly line. (Chris Cobcroft)

Chromeo: Jealous (I Ain’t With It) (Single) (Parlophone / OneLove Records)
- This is excellent. Electro-funk with hints of Italo-disco, but, most importantly, this is warm, rounded, just superb pop songwriting. Canada knows how to party. (Chris Cobcroft)

Co-Pilgrim: Plumes (Battle)
- Lush indie-rock and alt-country, with all the reverb it’s kinda psych even. Easily paced and contemplative with plenty of nods to classic indie-songwriting, Co-Pilgrim are a mature band, without necessarily being dad-rock. Plenty for fans of Wilco here. (Chris Cobcroft)

Coldplay: Midnight (Remixes) (Parlophone/Onelove)
- Christ, a world in which Coldplay is music I can’t dismiss out of hand is a freaky and upsetting one. Also, it continues to be -on the strength of these two remixes- one in which I live. Henrik Schwartz transforms Midnight into dreamy kraut-rock with synth bleeps studding the quiet like stars in a cold sky; Phones by contrast, opts for extremely long-form and quite minimal, ambient techno. Paradoxically there is a richness to his interpretation that is as fulfilling as it is surprising. (Chris Cobcroft)

Comrades: Safekeeper (Blood & Ink Records)
- This collection of beautifully layered tracks from post-hardcore Vermont-based trio Comrades are slow burners, but do not disappoint. Laura McElroy's delicate vocals create a lovely juxtaposition to the growling guitars and ferocious, wandering bass lines. This one's a winner. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Damon Albarn: Everyday Robots (Parlophone / Warner)
- Some painfully personal songs and a much more minimal sound than anything Gorillaz or Blur have done. The songs are infinitely intriguing and have a beauty that one would expect from a man like Damon Albarn. (Krishan Meepe)

Darlia: Candyman (Dew Process / Universal)
- As a lover of all things rock, Darlia’s second EP manages to encompass all things that do just that: rock. Hailing from the UK this English trio manages to blend some Seattle-grunge with Britpop, never losing site of grittiness while still maintaining catchy melodies that your body naturally reacts to. While it’s not all guts and gore, it’s not for the faint-hearted either. (Lauren Sachs)

Dawn Golden: All I Want (Single) (Create Control/Downtown)
- The single All I Want from solo electronic musician Dawn Golden pulls you into an ambient, electronic dream that allows you to lose yourself for a few minutes. Starting simplistically, the lyrical content pulls you in and under. The song crescendoes into an anthem with the addition of instruments and vocal layers, telling a story of unrequited desire that can be felt through your speakers. This Coldplay-esque song is worth a listen for those who enjoy a soundscape day dream. (Lauren Sachs)

Death: Leprosy (2-Disc Reissue) (Relapse)
- The legendary icons of death metal, er, Death, are re-releasing everything they've done with modern remasters to compensate for some of the horrible recording equipment that was all they could afford back then. It hasn't lost its old school charm, you can just hear the bass now, making it all the more kickass. Disc two comes with some rehearsal recordings that die hard fans will love. (Krishan Meepe)

Deorro: Five Hours (Single) (Indie)
- The unadorned simplicity of Deorro’s electro-house has an elegance that is as unlikely as it is welcome. (Chris Cobcroft)

Dewolff:Evil Mothergrabber (Single) (REMusic Records)
- Psych, blues & roots-rocking with a distinctly retro flavour: you probably know what you get from the Dutch dudes by now. They do it very well, too. (Chris Cobcroft)

E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr: Spiralo (Svart)
- Finnish space-rockers E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr deliver two epic, twenty minute jams that cut to the heart of der kosmiche musik in beautiful fashion. Elements of ambient, drone and kraut all inflect these hypnotic improvs, which maintain your attention even as they trip you out. Take an interstellar journey with these guys, you won’t regret it. (Chris Cobcroft)

Each Other: Being Elastic (Lefse / Fat Possum Records / Inertia)
- This Canadian trio, now based in Portland, take post-punk rock and dowse it in so much artiness that it almost becomes no-wave. Impressively, however, the band manage to serve multiple different masters: fusing all sorts of styles together, giving them rocking energy and always maintaining a pleasantly poppy sensibility. In the end, the sound is something like a more quiet and thoughtful version of Parquet Courts. Pretty damn nice. (Chris Cobcroft)

Eagulls: Eagulls (Partisan / Pop Frenzy / Universal)
- Singer George Mitchell joined Leeds indie / post-punkers Eagulls without an audition or anyone actually hearing him sing for that matter. However George’s screaming ramblings somehow endear him to me, make me want to hear the entire album, over and over. The single “Possessed” is going to be the clear popular track with a slight hint of Pixies influence to the guitar riffs. A winner in my books, best taken with a beer. (Linda Finlay)

Eels: The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett (Relativity / Pias / Mushroom)
- The wreckage of Mr. E’s voice now finally sounds as worn down as his often intensely personal tales of regret. Depending on how indulgent / critically depressed / drunk / all of the above you are, you may or may not wish to go on this journey with him. It’s a quiet but finely wrought record of a man’s brokenness. (Chris Cobcroft)

Eno / Hyde: Daddy’s Car (Single) (Warp / Inertia)
- Brian Eno will do anything, so, the potential for him to catch you off-guard is...high. Teaming up with Underworld’s Karl Hyde, this is -I dunno- like a synthetically lounge version of afrobeat? Despite its sugary, cheesy front, it’s infectious and often impressively incisive. The lounginess reminds me a bit of David Byrne’s ironic oeuvre and that’s an encouraging sign. Makes me very interested -for better or worse- to hear the album. (Chris Cobcroft)

Future: Honest (Epic / Sony)
- Two years after his debut LP, Pluto, Future throws mainstream rap another curveball laced with hard-hitting, warped bass lines and vocals to match. Honest incorporates infectious beats that pulsate all the way through. The album should be experienced as a whole, rather than isolating songs, taking you on a journey of collaborations with big names such as Kanye West, Whiz Khalifa and Drake who contribute to the whole, rather than grandstanding. Future deserves the hype. (Lauren Sachs)

Glass Animals: Gooey EP (Caroline)
- Minimalist verging on skeletal, Glass Animals R’n’B based electro is like a refreshing drink of water for the ears. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

The Glitch Mob: Becoming Harmonious (feat. Metal Mother) (Single) (Glass Air)
- Another well put together guilty pleasure: darkly atmospheric electronica with femme-fatale vox. It’s the quasi-dubstep stylings that both give the track its potentially embarrassing cheesiness, but also its downright power. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Hold Steady: Teeth Dreams (Positive Jams)
- The sixth studio album from Brooklyn heartland rockers The Hold Steady. For a while, now, the likably messy drunks have been trying to work out whether they could make it as a rock band when singing about drinking through your 30s was no longer charming. It’s still an open question, but Teeth Dreams is -at the very least- an upswing for them. The heartwarming echoes of yesterday’s sodden, feel-good anthems, for a moment at least, ring true again. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure & Chris Cobcroft)

How To Dress Well: Repeat Pleasure (Single) (Weird World / Domino)
- One man show HTDW brings us right up close in this sexy little excerpt from his upcoming LP What Is This Heart?. It appears he's climbing out from under the crushing weight of depression he's been under for two full-lengths and what a delight it is. That falsetto! Reminiscent of 90’s r’n’b with modern, minimal electro-pop production. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Howling Bells: Slowburn (Birthday Records)
- Sydney born and London based, Howling Bells, play their own breed of indie-rock with just a tad of bluesy grit. Their latest single Slowburn is a rocking number with all the blues, indie and rock elements held together by strong vocals from the lead singer, Juanita Stein. (Louis Whelan)

Ibibio Sound Machine Ibibio Sound Machine (Kartel / Shock Records)
- Comprised of a unique blend of electronica, afrobeat and disco, Ibibio Sound Machine's eponymous release is crazy, colourful and cool. Lead vocalist Eno Williams sings in her native Ibibio tongue, drawing lyrical inspiration from Nigerian folk tales and poetry. An exuberant textural triumph, an aural delight. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Jamie xx: Sleep Sound (Single) (Young Turks / Remote Control)
- Jamie xx debuts part one of his new 12” single. Sleep Sound is quiet and beautiful, inserting space in all the right places to create an electronic flow that feels right to listen to. (Lauren Sachs)

Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition: Dark Night Of The Soul (Fat Possum / Inertia)
- The former Squirrel Nut Zippers guy serves up a hearty dose of blue-eyed soul and Americana. I’m not sure there’s anything here that you couldn’t get from a Joe Cocker record, but then again, the reverse is probably true as well. (Chris Cobcroft)

Kiesza: Hideaway (Single) (Lokal Legend)
- Punchy bit of housey electro-pop that grabs you like Madge used to. The Calgary artist who recently move to NY is surely blowing up right now. This also has one of those all-in-one-take videos that is really rather good. (Chris Cobcroft)

kidkanevil: My Little Ghost (Project Mooncircle)
- God knows exactly where kidkanevil is actually from: I hear Berlin, I hear London, I hear ‘Tokyorkshire’. Whatever, he’s clearly fascinated with Japan, an obsession which you’ll hear all through this record of fairly twee glitch-hop beats. It’s oldschool enough that this is a refreshing blast from the past and despite the dorkily twee affectations, there’s a clinical precision underlying the soft cuteness which balances things out nicely. Further, there’s a diversity, including but not limited to the rather nice Japanese vocal tracks, which -when you tote it all up- makes this record kind of impressive. (Chris Cobcroft)

Killer Be Killed: Face Down (Single) (Nuclear Blast)
- A f***ing great single from supergroup Killer Be Killed, featuring some of the biggest names in hardcore. This track is a perfect example of vastly different creative forces and influences coming together to create a rollicking beast of a record, with a bunch of split personalities that are all friends with each other. It just works. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Kristy and the Kraks: Kristy and the Kraks (Totally Wired Records)
- I'm a bit of a sucker for stripped back garage rock and roll, so it's no coincidence that I love Kristy and the Kraks self-titled EP. Kristy and the Kraks are a two-piece, all girl, Austrian outfit, signed to Totally Wired Records. These girls keep it simple, recreating a vintage 60's sound with clanky guitar riffs and fantastic, garagey vocals. Fans of the 5.6.7.8's are going to love these gals, highly recommended. (Louis Whelan)

Lucius: Wildewoman (Mom + Pop / Pias / Mushroom)
- The strident indie-pop that girl-fronted, New York band, Lucius, are known for, is probably the least interesting part of their sound. On their record from late last year, now getting an Australian release, they like to try all sorts of things: touches of soul, country, 60’s girl-group, rock’n’roll and folk. It’s a diverse collection that should keep you interested throughout. (Chris Cobcroft)

Matthew And The Atlas: Other Rivers (Communion / Remote Control)
- Latest LP from U.K-based indie-folk outfit Matthew And The Atlas. MATA seem to be taking a slightly more electronic approach, with a hint of melancholic Americana. (Hayley Elliott-Maclure)

Mr. Little Jeans: Pocketknife (Sony Music)
- Mr. Little Jeans, although deceiving us as a Miss, releases her first full-length album Pocketknife after years of teasing fans with a few tracks here-and-there. Reminiscent of the ‘80s, this electro-pop gem is hard to ignore with each head-bobbing track proving it has been worth the wait. Pocketknife is one to add to your guilty pleasure library. (Lauren Sachs)

My Brightest Diamond: Until Now (Indie)
- A free EP from the eerie-rocking singer-songstress. Not necessarily her strongest body of work, but her music is always a welcome addition, no matter how small. (Chris Cobcroft)

Nas: Illmatic XX (Def Jam / Island / Universal)
- The twentieth anniversary edition of Nas’ classic album. First and foremost, a bloody great record. The addition of all the alternate mixes isn’t exactly a revelation, but neither are they wholly a shameless cash-in. If you know the original this is pleasant but far from essential, but if you need schooling in New York royalty then what the hell are you waiting for? (Chris Cobcroft)

Nick Waterhouse: Holly (Innovative Leisure)
- This Buddy Holly look-alike brings back some 60’s rockabilly and soul with his album Holly (possibly a reference to the man himself). This album feels nostalgic and sassy with the soulful back-up singers, brass solos and catchy rock'n'roll melodies. (Ella Dann-Limon)

Nux Vomica: Nux Vomica (Relapse)
- It may be only be 3 songs but it clocks a whole 44 minutes and is just as challenging a listen as you can imagine. The vocals sit somewhere between black metal and crust punk and the rest of the band goes all the way from experimental death metal to Mogwai style post-rock. (Krishan Meepe)

Oberman Knocks: Dilankex (Aperture / EPM)
- British producer Nigel Truswell lays down a slow, clanking, almost wonky bit of industrial atmosphere, although in many ways it’s probably more reminiscent of his heroes, Autechre. Speaking of which, the aged kings of IDM drop in to do a seventeen minute (!) remix of Oberman’s six minute track. It’s everything you’d expect. I’ve come to believe that Autechre are musical serial-killers: taking perfect happy, normal music, and hacking into it, murderously, splaying its innards out as some kind of grisly act of worship. Teeth-baringly uncompromising. (Chris Cobcroft)

Origamibiro: Odham’s Standard (Denovali)
- Subtle electronica with an interest in organic sounds and acoustic instrumentation from English audio-visual collective Origamibiro. In amongst the gentle string and piano arrangements are generous amounts of field recordings, static and miscellaneous ticking, winding and crunching all precisely arranged, coming together to form an intricately crafted album of ambient instrumentals. (Adrian Marsh)

Owen Pallett: Song For Five & Six (Single) (Domino / EMI)
- Owen Pallett’s art-pop -still borrowing stylings from minimalists like Philip Glass- on this advance single introduces a lot of synthesiser to the already dancy pacing, which, with his effeminate voice, makes this end up sounding like a slightly artier version of Hot Chip. Ain’t nothing wrong with that and I’m keen to hear how the new album turns out. (Chris Cobcroft)

Paolo Nutini: Scream (Funk My Life Up) (Single) (Atlantic / Warner)
- Classic, blue-eyed soul out of...Scotland? Well, you need something to keep you warm up there. (Chris Cobcroft)

Parquet Courts: Sunbathing Animal (Single) (What's Your Rupture?/ Rough Trade / Remote Control)
- This is exciting new stuff from these charismatic Brooklyn musicians. Sunbathing Animal is incredibly fast-paced, it feels as if lead-singer Andy Savage can't even keep up. Through the rush and mess of the track, their instrumental solos are glorious. (Ella Dann-Limon)

Plague Vendor: Free To Eat (Indie)
- Plague Vendor's new album, Free To Eat, is a combination of SoCal skate punk and surf-rock. The tracks bounce between full-on head banging numbers to more surf influenced ones, with twangy guitar tones, trippy reverb effect and all. (Louis Whelan)

Prince: The Breakdown (Single) (NPG / Warner)
- I think this may be the closest I’ve ever heard Prince come to self-parody, like it was Dave Chappelle with a bouffant hairdo up there. The slow r’n’b croon builds up and up to the point of utter hysteria. Even the production seems on the verge of breaking apart. In that uncanny way that only Prince can manage it’s still very impressive to listen to. I wonder what on earth the whole record is going to sound like. (Chris Cobcroft)

PUP: PUP (Royal Mountain / Side One Dummy / Shock)
- Strongly melodic, but equally psychotic punk rock out of Toronto. Even Buddy Holly-esque or well-nigh Sugar Ray style moments never wipe the snarl from their faces. A diverse and intelligent record, which will entertain, but never loses its essential tension. There-in lies its greatness. (Chris Cobcroft)

Pure X: Angel (Fat Possum Records / Inertia)
- This is the pleasantly medicated 3rd record from Texan soft-rockers Pure X. As laidback as they are, they’re assiduous students of history, taking in elements of everyone from Big Star, to T. Rex and The Bee Gees. Nonetheless, on occasions this verges on being elevator music...but thanks to all Pure X’s schooling, it won’t give you brain damage. (Chris Cobcroft)

Pyrrhon: The Mother of Virtues (Relapse)
- I'm pretty sure modern metal bands are constantly trying to outdo each other in the crazy department. Pyrrhon are a contender because of the full-on intensity of the assault they bring, with a vocalist whose shrieks should leave his throat a bloody mess. He seems to have no control over the hatred that comes out of his mouth. Equal parts interesting, technical and aggresive. (Krishan Meepe)

Quantic: Magnetica (Tru Thoughts)
- With all the flood of odds and ends flowing from Quantic’s camp, it’s weird to think of this as his first ‘proper’ release since 2006. As it is, the Colombian based bloke has made a funky Frankenstein’s monster: a jumbled collection of so many different styles of jazz, hip hop, latin, African, Carribean, even folk and a couple I’m sure I’ve forgotten, coursing together freely and fusing when they feel like it. Despite the range of guest-stars -everyone from the obligatory Alice Russell to Shinehead and Dereb The Ambassador- this doesn’t feel like it’s trying to bend the ears of a wider audience, but rather it just grooves away, any way it feels like. (Chris Cobcroft)

Ramona Lisa: Arcadia (Terrible / Mistletone / Inertia)
- Arcadia is Ramona Lisa’s (aka Caroline Polacheck) debut album, Polacheck has been using the stage name in private for quite some time but has only come out as a solo artist after being a part of Chairlift since 2005. Arcadia is a collection of love songs recorded entirely on Polacheck’s laptop, which seems just extraordinary. The alternative album is a combination of electro-indie-pop, experimenting with different MIDI sounds to create a delirium of randomness that Polacheck calls “Pastoral Electronic Music”. (Sarah Romero)

RATKING: So Sick Stories (Single) (Hot Charity / XL / Remote Control)
- Remarkably good single, introing the new record from the NY teens. Inner city grit, its pain and its bliss and a sweet vocal from King Krule. About as close to being unpretentious as you can be in hiphop and also bloody good. (Chris Cobcroft)

RATKING: So It Goes (Hot Charity / XL / Remote Control)
- A splendid mixture of new-school stylings makes this young and gritty duo a breath of fresh air in the highly derivative world of urban music. Understated, dark and unsettling, this may be the start of something new and exciting. (Chris Cobcroft)

Ringworm: Hammer Of The Witch (Relapse Records)
- Cleveland hardcore stalwarts Ringworm prove why they’ve killed it since their inception in the early 90s and continue to kill it on their Relapse debut. The band, particularly vocalist James Bulloch, just smash it. Simple, but with more energy than ten other hardcore bands together. (Chris Cobcroft)

Royal Blood: Come On Over (Single) (Black Mammoth / Warner)
- This song will definitely get your attention immediately with it's catchy opening bass riffs slowing down a notch into the verse and then building up to a roaring chorus. The thing that astounds me about this band is that they are a duo consisting of bass & drums. They will leave you astounded, wondering how that get that great guitar sound. I hear these guys are touring Oz soon so I suggest you go check 'em out! (Linda Finlay)

SAOR: Aura (Northern Silence)
- Black, celtic metal out of Scotland. It has some of the characteristics of listening to Enya while being burned at the stake. Elements of post-rock, shoegaze, doom and folk really help to flesh out these five, ten minute tracks. The technical skill of this band is impressive and the careful production of the many different layers of noise really helps to bring that out. A slightly guilty pleasure, but, really very enjoyable. (Chris Cobcroft)

Slayer: Implode (Single) (American Recordings/ Sony BMG)
- It’s new Slayer, that’s pretty much all I need to say, right? For the one confused person back there, it’s the essence of thrash metal, nothing less and by now, nothing more. (Chris Cobcroft)

St Vincent: Prince Johnny (Single) (Loma Vista / Republic / Caroline / Universal)
- A dreamy melody with a catchy chorus that is similar to classic St. Vincent motifs. An eerie choral progression accompanies the melody. (Ella Dann-Limon)

Swans: To Be Kind (Create Control)
- Another crushingly enormous record from Michael Gira. The slow but inexorable pound of each song once again provides a deceptively regular and grid-like framework to Gira’s broad, always bombastic and just plain huge artistic aspirations and the mad but scarily compelling ritual chant of his lyrics. I need more time with it, but this may actually be even more of a force to be reckoned with than Swans’ last album, The Seer. (Chris Cobcroft)

Sylvan Esso: Sylvan Esso (Partisan / POD / Inertia)
- Quite a few people will be familiar with Amelia Meath and her rootsy, acapella vocal group, Mountain Man. Here she’s teaming up with Nick Sanborn, an electronic artist (he works under the name Made Of Oak). The disparate elements that go into making Sylvan Esso are often exactly that, disparate. The beats stand starkly distinct from Meath’s folky warbling. Somehow, however, this extremely individual twist on the folktronica formula produces a strangely compelling hybrid: like green foliage cracking through the concrete floor of a steel-works, it’s a very appealing blend of the old invading the new. (Chris Cobcroft)

Trixie Whitley: Fourth Corner (ABC / Universal)
-Belgian born artist Trixie Whitley presents some husky but hearty vocals with a blues tone in her latest album, Fourth Corner. These tracks have a strong soul feel mashed with alternative rock and at times a hint of world music. In an odd move for such a rootsy artist, Trixie is also quite at home with drum machines and synths, too, giving much of this record a dancy, somtimes even quasi-techno or industrial feel; it's something that's enhanced by the pervading darkness, casting a shadow across most of these songs. This is an interesting album for its ability to have so many influences through each track. (Ella Dann-Limon & Chris Cobcroft)

Tusmorke: Riset Bak Speilet (Svart)
- The last thing I expected Svart to release is an old school prog band the likes of Caravan. Even wilder than that is the fact that Tusmorke can do that genre well without sounding too modern or weird. I don't know if there was a Finnish folk equivalent of the 70's Canterbury sound, but if there was, this would probably be it. Beautifully crafted prog tracks with touches of psychedelia and folk here and there. If you've ever liked In The Land of Grey And Pink, you'll surely be comparing it to this in joyous bewilderment. Oh, there's also some dark lyrics about the occult, death and what have you. (Krishan Meepe)

Twin Shadow:To The Top (Single) (4AD / Remote Control)
- I was gonna say that George Lewis Jr. was continuing his metamorphosis into Eric Carmen, then I realized, actually he’s sounding like Michael Bolton. Just how much irony is in the mix, and whether it’s working, appears to be an open question. Bemusing. (Chris Cobcroft)

Vainaja: Kadotetut (Svart)
- Crushingly doomy but swirling and ethereal at the same time. The Finnish band's concept album is based around stories of occult events that took place in rural Finland during the 19th century. If you like your metal atmospheric, sludgy and in Finnish, check it out. (Krishan Meepe)

White Hinterland:Baby (Dead Oceans/ Inertia)
- Moody, often piano driven songwriting, quite reminiscent of early Tori Amos, but considering how much else is going on, maybe this more like St. Vincent; and there is a lot more going on! Often heavily orchestrated, there are also synthesisers which might burst into loungey electro-funk or, equally, r’n’b with trap beats. A complex and fascinating record. (Chris Cobcroft)

Wake Owl: Buffalo (Single) (Vagrant / Create/Control)
- Wake Owl bring a Grizzly Bear style poise and eeriness to this indie-pop single. Reminds you what that indie-pop can actually be nuanced and grown-up. (Chris Cobcroft)

White Lung: Drown With The Monster (Single) (Domino / EMI)
- Canadian band White Lung provide us with a refreshing and empowering taste of a woman leading punk in the 21st century. The distorted riffs and drum bashing in this song certainly give you whiplash, throwing you relentlessly round in the space of just two minutes. Drown With The Monster is a short and not-so-sweet punk tune with driving force to take note of. (Lauren Sachs)

White Lung: Face Down (Single) (Domino / EMI)
- This is the latest single from the Vancouver band White Lung from their forthcoming album, Deep Fantasy. These guys are set to tour Australia playing in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, I definitely don't want to miss these babin' gals. Face Down is hard-hitting alt-rock / punk / post-punk with vocalist Mish Way delivering her signature chant-along, melodic speech-singing. (Ella Dann-Limon)

Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey:Going Back Home (Chess Records)
- This pretty intimidating pairing come together to show all the would-be blues rockers of today that they’re never going to be this good. An astonishing amount of energy. Age only gives them a rough edge that’s perfect for the blues. (Chris Cobcroft)

Wye Oak: Shriek (Merge / Inertia)
- It’s simply not reasonable to swerve from folk to electro-pop and expect everything to go fine. Yet that’s exactly what folk (now electro-pop) duo Wye Oak have done. There are echoes of The Wye Oak of old, and, I suppose, that outfit was quite broadly based already. This is a confident and surprisingly subtle bit of grown-up pop. (Chris Cobcroft)

Yann Tiersen: A Midsummer Evening (Single) (Create/Control / Mute)
- The sometime film composer (for Amelie among others) returns with more thoroughly fleshed out, indie / glitch / folk-tronic pleasantries. Feels like about ten years ago, but perhaps you need to go back and revisit Dan Snaith back when he was Manitoba? If so, you’re in for a treat. (Chris Cobcroft)